John McLaughlin was born on January 6, 1932 in Turin, Kansas to Mr. and Mrs. Julian Mclaughlin. He graduated high school in California as a straight A student and then joined the Army in 1951. He married Miss Anna Matheis in Mainz, Germany in 1963.
John served numerous overseas tours including combat tours in Korea and Vietnam, retiring in 1978 after 27 years of active military service. His many awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Special Forces Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Scuba Diver Badge. He was also an Honor Graduate in the first Sergeants Major class at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.
After retirement, John served as the general manager of Burlington Air Freight where he received numerous awards for an increase of international business and efficiency. He established Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution, LP in 1986, providing a full range of transportation and warehousing services. His sons, Scott and Dieter, have continued to successfully operate the business since John’s death on December 18, 1998. Anna, Scott and Dieter still reside in El Paso.
CSM(R) McLaughlin was an active member and leader in the Special Forces Association Chapter IX in El Paso, TX. It was through his efforts in 1995 that Special Forces Association Chapter IX got involved in the food drive, which we continue today. The annual golf tournament was organized in his name to memorialize his contributions to the El Paso community. This tournament is the Chapter’s primary means to fund the Montoya-Dominguez Food Drive providing food baskets to the needy during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays as well as assit Operation Noel and other community activities. He was an incredible warrior and human being whose presence is dearly missed.
